Blackwash!

There is condemnation in the media, press and public this morning of MP’s from all parties after heavily edited and ‘blacked out’ expenses were published. The redacted publication of expenses is according to our elected members an apparent step towards openness and transparency.

MP’s rightly feel embarrassed for outrageously abusing the expenses system but removing pages from their files of expenses prior to publication will only lead to more outrage and reduce their standing further. By taking this course of action, every MP has given the Telegraph several months more of expenses headlines as its reporters will now sift through every MP’s published expenses and compare this to what it holds on its database of expenses which it obtained and highlight what each MP has tried to hide.

Surely a better way forward would have been to publish every single detail, repay what was excessive and apologise for abusing the system. At least that would have given every MP the defence of saying that he had been open and honest with his expenses instead of the ongoing negative headlines and cries of dishonesty.